Plant and System Operators, All Other pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,960 or more. The middle half of other plant and system operators in Rapid City earn between $44,910 and $80,960.
- $43K10th
- $45K25th
- $62KMedian
- $81K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,250 | $5,188 | $29.93 |
| Median | $62,190 | $5,182 | $29.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,910 | $3,742 | $21.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,960 | $6,747 | $38.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Other plant and system operators in Rapid City earn 11% more than the South Dakota average ($56,320) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($65,700). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $62,250 | $62,190 | $43,140 | $80,960 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $56,320 | $57,430 | $43,700 | $73,720 | 190 |
| United States | $65,700 | $62,470 | $40,700 | $94,560 | 14,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $62,250, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $52,198 a year, or $4,350 a month and $2,008 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Rapid City a good place for other plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rapid City area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $62,250 buys what about $69,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rapid City$62,250
- Sioux Falls$55,390
All Plant and System Operators, All Other salaries in South Dakota
Highest-paying cities for other plant and system operators
Sacramento, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($95,910).
- Sacramento, CA$95,910
- Las Vegas, NV$94,340
- Duluth, MN$91,550
- San Jose, CA$89,220
- San Francisco, CA$88,310
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Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do other plant and system operators make an hour in Rapid City?
$29.93 an hour on average, and $29.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other plant and system operators salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other plant and system operators take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $52,198 a year ($4,350 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,250. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do other plant and system operators earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($65,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8099; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.12, this job is 5.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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